Milton's dilemmas

Friday

Mar 26, 2010 at 12:01 AMMar 26, 2010 at 7:21 AM

This post isnít going to make anybody happy.

Itís some words of caution for anybody using†the recent Springfield School District plagiarism scandal to gun after Springfield School Superintendent Walter Milton or for anyone who stands firmly behind him.

Trying hard to be fair, even to a fault, and separating what I know from what I do not, Iíd like to challenge both camps. By doing so, youíll see how my mind sometimes operates as a journalist.

(As for those who believe Sarah Watson did not do anything wrong, I canít help you. But if I knew your employer, Iíd warn them.)For the gunning-after-Milton crowdWhat I know is that Milton said he gave Watson the Philadelphia ďImagine 2014Ē plan along with several others because he liked the way they looked, not because of the ideas inside.

Should he have read what was inside them? Maybe. But not necessarily. As superintendent, heís already thoroughly versed in what schools all across the country, if not the world, are doing to improve. Trust me. Iíve had free-flowing, off-the-record conversations with him about this. His office and probably home libraries are stacked with dozens of books and studies about education reform. As an education writer, I have my own stack. Iíve also had editors share with me publications because of the way they looked. It doesnít mean they endorse the content. It means, "maybe we can do something that looks just as good if not better." People like looking at nice things.

Also, speaking as a journalist, do I expect my executive editor to fact-check everything his reporters write? No. He trusts us. He has to. In fact, so does the metro editor we directly report to, the managing editors he reports to and the copy editors proofing through my stories late at night. All must assume my work is my work.

I do think thereís a similarity between an executive editor and a superintendent, who also relies on the expertise of his staff on a day-to-day basis. I think Iíd be offended if I were Miltonís communications director and I learned my biggest project was checked for plagiarism.

Iím also not sure itís fair to expect that someone should have caught this during all the back-and-forth editing that presumably took place. As someone whoís been a part of processes like this, people tend to recognize what they put into it and assume parts they†didn't†came from other focus groups.

Finally, the district did invest in Watson, spending more than $3,600 to send her to strategic planning training. At $70,000 a year, and as communications director, expectations for what she should be able to accomplish should be very high. (Read more about this in a story running this weekend).For the Milton-is-a victim campWhenever something like this happens, it happens under someoneís watch, in this case, Miltonís. Anyone in his position must answer for it somehow, and in a full, satisfying manner.

What kinds of questions might be asked to make sure he has or will?

Some off the top of my head (ones that I and others will soon be asking of him):

What was your level of involvement in the planning process? How much did you peruse (to peruse means to read carefully) all the ideas flowing in from all the focus groups, teachers and administrative leaders? Did you at any time ask Watson how she planned to organize all the information for this important document that would prominently mention not only your name but that of the Springfield School Board? Did you personally approve not only the information-gathering process Watson used, but the process she would use to assemble all the information? Finally, why wasnít there, as often is, a team, commission or committee formed to oversee or actually do the writing and producing of the final draft?†Leaving the responsibility of such a significant document to one person is risky, regardless of how dry committee writing tends to be.

To both campsRelax. The full truth will come in due time.

Pete Sherman

This post isnít going to make anybody happy.

Itís some words of caution for anybody using†the recent Springfield School District plagiarism scandal to gun after Springfield School Superintendent Walter Milton or for anyone who stands firmly behind him.

Trying hard to be fair, even to a fault, and separating what I know from what I do not, Iíd like to challenge both camps. By doing so, youíll see how my mind sometimes operates as a journalist.

(As for those who believe Sarah Watson did not do anything wrong, I canít help you. But if I knew your employer, Iíd warn them.)For the gunning-after-Milton crowdWhat I know is that Milton said he gave Watson the Philadelphia ďImagine 2014Ē plan along with several others because he liked the way they looked, not because of the ideas inside.

Should he have read what was inside them? Maybe. But not necessarily. As superintendent, heís already thoroughly versed in what schools all across the country, if not the world, are doing to improve. Trust me. Iíve had free-flowing, off-the-record conversations with him about this. His office and probably home libraries are stacked with dozens of books and studies about education reform. As an education writer, I have my own stack. Iíve also had editors share with me publications because of the way they looked. It doesnít mean they endorse the content. It means, "maybe we can do something that looks just as good if not better." People like looking at nice things.

Also, speaking as a journalist, do I expect my executive editor to fact-check everything his reporters write? No. He trusts us. He has to. In fact, so does the metro editor we directly report to, the managing editors he reports to and the copy editors proofing through my stories late at night. All must assume my work is my work.

I do think thereís a similarity between an executive editor and a superintendent, who also relies on the expertise of his staff on a day-to-day basis. I think Iíd be offended if I were Miltonís communications director and I learned my biggest project was checked for plagiarism.

Iím also not sure itís fair to expect that someone should have caught this during all the back-and-forth editing that presumably took place. As someone whoís been a part of processes like this, people tend to recognize what they put into it and assume parts they†didn't†came from other focus groups.

Finally, the district did invest in Watson, spending more than $3,600 to send her to strategic planning training. At $70,000 a year, and as communications director, expectations for what she should be able to accomplish should be very high. (Read more about this in a story running this weekend).For the Milton-is-a victim campWhenever something like this happens, it happens under someoneís watch, in this case, Miltonís. Anyone in his position must answer for it somehow, and in a full, satisfying manner.

What kinds of questions might be asked to make sure he has or will?

Some off the top of my head (ones that I and others will soon be asking of him):

What was your level of involvement in the planning process? How much did you peruse (to peruse means to read carefully) all the ideas flowing in from all the focus groups, teachers and administrative leaders? Did you at any time ask Watson how she planned to organize all the information for this important document that would prominently mention not only your name but that of the Springfield School Board? Did you personally approve not only the information-gathering process Watson used, but the process she would use to assemble all the information? Finally, why wasnít there, as often is, a team, commission or committee formed to oversee or actually do the writing and producing of the final draft?†Leaving the responsibility of such a significant document to one person is risky, regardless of how dry committee writing tends to be.

To both campsRelax. The full truth will come in due time.

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